Reduced leakage trench isolation

ABSTRACT

Leakage current may be reduced in trench isolated semiconductor devices by providing a buffer between the trench isolation and an active area. For example, with a trench isolated photodiode, a buffer of opposite conductivity type may be provided between the trench and the diffusion that forms the p-n junction of the photodiode.

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/098,881, filed Jun. 17, 1998.

BACKGROUND

This invention relates generally to semiconductor manufacturing processes and particularly to the use of trench isolation in connection with semiconductor manufacturing processes.

In a variety of semiconductor devices, trench isolation is utilized to electrically isolate active areas from one another. Trench isolation is used in modern semiconductor processes to manufacture a variety of devices including transistors and photodiodes.

Photodiodes used in an imaging array can be manufactured using conventional complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) processing. As a result, an imaging array can be produced on a semiconductor structure which also contains logic circuits such as microprocessors, memories and the like. A pixel sensor uses pixels formed by photodiodes which receive light information from an image and convert the light information to electrical signals that are transferred to subsequent circuitry for further processing. The image sensors may be active pixel sensors or passive pixel sensors.

CMOS image sensors have advantages over the conventional charge coupled device (CCD) image sensors because they may achieve lower power consumption, integration of on-chip logic and lower cost. However when the CMOS image sensors are integrated with other logic circuits such as microprocessors, the sensors may need to be made with processes which include silicidation and trench isolation. Covering the photodiode with silicide would effectively block the light that is incident on the photodiode and thereby prevent the device from operating. However the silicide can be prevented from covering the photodiode through the addition of one or two masking steps.

The trenches used for trench isolation are generally dry etched and, as a result, the trench surfaces usually have a large number of interface states. These interface states lead to high surface generation velocity and, as discovered by the present inventors, a large dark current. The trench forming processes also cause crystalline defects such as dislocations and stacking faults. Those crystalline defects reduce carrier generation lifetime which increases dark current. Dark current is a current which flows when no light is incident on the camera. This is an undesirable consequence of trench isolation. The dark current decreases signal-to-noise ratios for the image sensor and decreases image quality.

Thus there is a continuing need for image sensors which can be manufactured with advanced logic processes to enable the image sensors and the logic devices to be integrated in a single integrated circuit. There is also a more general need for techniques for overcoming leakage currents in trench isolated semiconductor devices.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one aspect, a photosensitive device includes a semiconductor structure having a surface. A first region of a first conductivity type is formed in the structure. A second region of a second conductivity type, opposite to the first conductivity type, is formed between the surface of the structure and the first region.

In accordance with another aspect, a photosensitive device includes a support structure, and a first photosensitive region formed in the support structure. A dielectric layer is formed over the region and a light transmissive covering layer is formed over the dielectric layer.

In accordance with still another aspect, a photosensitive device includes a semiconductor structure and a depletion region formed in said structure. A conductive layer is formed over the depletion region and an isolation region formed in the structure, on either side of the depletion region, but spaced therefrom.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of still another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line 6—6 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 6 is a top view of one embodiment corresponding to FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is another top view of another embodiment corresponding to FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of the prior art;

FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of yet another embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 11 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A semiconductor device 11 formed in a semiconductor structure 10, shown in FIG. 1, may include isolation trenches 18. Isolation trenches are generally formed by a dry etching process which can create interface states that lead to high surface generation velocity and dark current in photosensitive devices, such as photodiodes. The isolation trenches 18 are conventionally filled with an oxide or other filler material.

In the illustrated embodiment, a photodiode is formed that includes an n-type diffusion region 12 a in a p-type epitaxial layer 10. Thus a depletion region is formed between the n-type region 12 a and the p-type epitaxial layer 10.

A silicide-blocking layer 16, which could be silicon nitride, covers an active area between the trenches 18. Below the trench 18 is a p-well 20 in the illustrative p-type structure. An oxide layer 14, which may be called a pad oxide, may be formed between the layer 16 and the region 12 a.

While the present invention is illustrated in connection with a photodiode in a p-type semiconductor structure, other conventional devices that have trench isolation, such as conventional transistors used in logic devices, could benefit from the present invention as well. Other trench isolated photosensitive device configurations can also be used. In addition, opposite conductivity type devices could be used by simply inverting the conductivity types of the diffusion 12 a illustrated in FIG. 1.

The n-type region 12 a does not span the trenches 18 and is bounded on either side by p-type region 10. The p-type intervening regions 22 between the trenches 18 and the region 12 a act as buffer regions to reduce the leakage current caused by the interface states formed by the dry etched trench 18. This leakage current produces a dark current in trench isolated photosensitive devices. The width of the intervening regions 22 depends on the particular characteristics of the device in question. The width of the regions 22 may be adjusted to sufficiently reduce the leakage current to achieve desirable results.

Any technique may be used to define the region 12 a. In one conventional approach, the region 12 a may be formed by the n-tip implant used in forming conventional transistor lightly doped drain structures. Thus prior to forming the layer 16, suitable masking layers may be provided to define an opening to receive the n-tip implant. Thereafter the implant may be activated and driven by a high temperature anneal step or other activation techniques.

Thus the regions 22 in effect create a buffer around the n-type diffusion region 12 a of the photodiode because they are formed between the region 12 a and the trench 18. This reduces leakage current arising from the depletion region which bounds the p-n junction. In the case of a photosensitive device, reducing the leakage current reduces the dark current experienced by the resulting image sensor.

Another approach to overcoming the leakage created by the trench isolation process, shown in FIG. 2, uses the p-well regions 20 a which extend into the region 22 a between the n-type region 12 b and the trench 18. Like the p-type regions 22 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the incursion of the p-well into the regions 22 a reduces leakage current between the depletion region and the interface states created in the trench 18.

The p-well may extend into the region 22 a between the trench isolation and the diffusion 12 b by suitable adjustments in the p-well masking process and/or by increasing the drive applied to the p-well implants. Other techniques could be used as well. Essentially, the n-type diffusion region 12 b could have spanned the region between the trench regions 18, but instead it is masked off so it is spaced from the trench regions 18. Through the use of the p-well 20 a, a p-type region provides the buffering described above.

Another approach to overcoming the leakage problem, shown in FIG. 3, is similar to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 but intervening p-type tip regions 22 b are formed between the n-type diffusion 12 c and the trenches 18. The diffusion 12 c may be formed the same way as a region 12 a in FIG. 1. However additional masking may be utilized to allow the p-type tip implant (also used, for example, to form the p-minus regions of a graded junction transistor) to be utilized to form p-minus or tip regions which extend into the region between the diffusion 12 c and the trench 18. Again the regions 22 b, like the regions 22 a and 22 discussed previously, prevent leakage current between the depletion regions associated with the p-n junction and the trenches 18. It may also be desirable to cause the p-wells 20 b to extend closer together to further isolate the depletion regions from the trenches 18.

The embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 are advantageous in that they have lower leakage current since the depletion regions are isolated from the trench. The buffer region 22 is still part of the active diode. Thus electrons optically generated in the buffer region diffuse into the p-n diode depletion region and contribute to the photo current. These diodes therefore do not suffer a reduction in quantum efficiency.

The width of the buffer region (W in the figures) is determined independently for each diode with particular attention being paid to the doping profiles. Thus W may be made up of the widest depletion region of the p-type side, the trench depletion region, the n-type lateral diffusion, the encroachment of the trench due to processing, and an allotment for misalignment. There is also a small depletion region around the trench due to dangling bond and other defects in the trench boundary.

Referring now to FIG. 4, in another embodiment, the silicide is not blocked over the p-type region 10 forming a silicide portion 28. The portion 28 does not require a significant amount of area. A microlens (not shown) could be used to focus a light into the center of the diode. The microlens may be formed as a deposited layer which forms a droplet shape that acts like a lens. In this case silicided portions 28 are formed on either side of the blocking layer 16.

Referring to FIGS. 5 through 7, another embodiment in accordance with the invention is similar to the previous embodiments but includes an additional p-type region 30 between the oxide layer 14, the n-type region 12 b and the P-wells 20. The p-type region 30 decreases dark current arising from leakage caused by electron-hole pair generation at the depleted interface between the oxide layer 14 and the p-wells 20.

The dark current may result from the electron-hole pair generation at the top of the depleted surface and is dependent upon the quality of the oxide 14 on silicon or the density of interface states of the oxide on silicon. With this structure, the n-type region 12 b is buried within the p-type layers.

The p-type region 30 may be formed from a p-well, p-epi, p-tip or any other p-type layer. Similarly, the layer 30 may be used with the embodiment of FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 as well.

Referring to FIG. 6, metal contact to the n-type layer 12 b is used to apply reverse bias voltage to the n-type layer and to collect the carriers generated by light. The metal contact 33 may be made from the top as indicated in FIG. 6 or from the side as indicated in FIG. 7. In each case, the metal contact 33 contacts an n-type region 32 or 35 formed in the p-type region 30 or the isolation region 18.

Referring now to FIG. 8, still another embodiment in accordance with the invention is similar to the embodiment of FIG. 2 except that a thin polysilicon layer 36 is formed on top of a gate oxide layer 38. The gate oxide layer 38 may be formed using conventional gate oxide formation processes. The polysilicon covered device may reduce the surface leakage, for example, by protecting the underlying oxide from a plasma poly etch back or any other plasma etch. The plasma etching of the oxide may cause surface leakage. In addition, high quality gate oxide formation processes may be used to reduce leakage.

For example, the gate oxide formation may involve forming a sacrificial oxide layer. Oxide may be grown at a relatively low temperature and then annealed at a higher temperature. The polysilicon is thereafter deposited.

The silicide 40 on top of the poly layer 36 is blocked so that the light can go through to the diode. By making the polysilicon layer 36 sufficiently thin, the quantum efficiency of the device may not be significantly reduced. The devices shown in FIG. 8 may reduce leakage current which may be occurring from the diode surface. Again the techniques illustrated in FIG. 8 may be applied to other configurations including those shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

A conventional photogate device 51, shown in FIG. 9, includes a trench isolation region 50 on either side of an active area which includes a depletion region 52. The photogate 54 is arranged partially over the isolation region 50 a and partially over the depletion region 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the substrate may be p-type material. A transfer gate 56 may be positioned between the photogate 54 and one of the isolation regions 50 b and a contact 58 may be formed between the transfer gate 56 and the isolation region 50 b.

The potential well formed underneath the photogate 51 captures incident photoelectrons. However, thermally generated carriers are also collected in the well, reducing the signal-to-noise ratio and the dynamic range of the pixel.

The depletion region 52 in the prior art device shown in FIG. 9 comes in contact with the isolation region 50 a and the substrate surface 59. Thus, higher carrier generation rates may be developed increasing the number of thermally generated carriers and decreasing the signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range of the pixel.

Referring now to FIG. 10, a p-type buffer region 57 may be formed between the isolation region 50 a and the depletion region 52. This p-type buffer region 57 buffers the depletion region 52 and decreases the number of thermally generated electrons. By buffering the edges of the photogate with an additional P-type area, the depletion region 52 does not come in contact with the isolation 50 a, thus reducing leakage current and improving signal-to-noise ratio and dynamic range. Alternatively, the P-type buffer region 57 may be formed using other techniques including, as examples, forming a p-minus or p-tip buffer (see FIG. 3), or a p-well buffer (see FIG. 2), or forming a p-plus diffusion.

Referring finally to FIG. 11, still another embodiment is illustrated which is similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 except that the p-well 20 c is spaced away from the edges of the n-type region 12 b by the regions 22 b which may be formed of p-type epitaxial material. An increased impact ionization level may be created by the juxtaposition of an n-type tip region 12 b and the p-well 20 c in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. The p-epitaxial layer is lower in p-type concentration than the p-well. The p-epitaxial regions 22 b create a lower electric field decreasing the impact ionization level. Also, the leakage current due to impact ionization may be decreased. Thus, the higher electric field across the depletion region that may lead to impact ionization and soft breakdown under reverse bias voltages, may be decreased or avoided.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. For example, it is also possible to form a buffer region by diffusing a p-plus region into the area between the diffusion 12 and the trench 18. It is intended that the appended claims will cover all such modifications and variations as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A photosensitive device comprising: a support structure; an active area formed in said support structure including a first photosensitive region formed in said support structure; a dielectric layer formed over said region and covering said entire active area; and a light transmissive covering layer formed over said dielectric layer, said light transmissive covering layer covering said entire active area.
 2. The device of claim 1, said region including a diffusion of a first conductivity type surrounded by a region of opposite conductivity type.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein said diffusion is n-type and is formed in a p-type epitaxial layer.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein said covering layer is polysilicon and said dielectric is a gate oxide.
 5. The device of claim 2 wherein said support structure includes a surface and said region of opposite conductivity type extends around said first photosensitive region to a point proximate said surface.
 6. The device of claim 5 wherein said covering layer extends over the surface that is proximate said region of opposite conductivity type.
 7. The device of claim 5 including trench isolation regions on either side of said active area, said covering layer spanning said isolation regions. 